Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, March 19, 2016

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This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Bible Words by Which to Live.” Today’s Word is, “Repentance.”

“For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:12-14)

King David allowed lust and being drunk with power to get the better of him. He did not realize how far he had gone down the road away from the Lord. David sent Uriah, the Hittite, to the frontline in a war the Israelites were in the midst of because he had gotten Uriah’s wife pregnant and could not find a way to cover it up. He thought he could make his sin go away by killing Bathsheba’s husband. Of course this only made matters worse.

Since the Lord loved David so much, He sent the prophet Nathan to him to show him his sin. Nathan began speaking in a parable that described a rich man, with a lack of compassion, taking advantage of a poor man. This made David furious. “And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5-6). Nathan revealed the identity of the pitiless rich man. He said, “Thou art the man.”

Most people put in that same situation would become angrier, because the prophet exposed their sin. Jesus dealt with many of the leaders of Israel in His day, as did Nathan in this instance. The leaders invariably were angered and tried to kill Him. This was not the case with David. Even after the Lord reproved him in detail, and told him of the judgment against his house, David had godly sorrow for sin, and in heart, turned from it. Though it was painful, he accepted his responsibility and punishment. He knew and agreed that God was just in His judgment. It seemed severe, but the Lord had to let all who observed, see that He was impartial. He knew that this would give His enemies occasion to blaspheme if He did not correct David’s sin openly. It was a blessing that David’s punishment was temporal. He had to endure extreme trials and watch strife overtake Israel because of his sin, but he did not lose eternal life, because he committed his ways to the Lord. He said, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” (Psalms 51:1-4).

This is the kind of repentance that God respects. Full heart repentance is the standard. God is ready, willing, and able to forgive us if we are ready and willing to turn from the sin. I want to have the humility of David and the willingness to follow the Lord all of the way. How about you? —L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)